New Fronius charging solution for electric cars

“The Fronius Wattpilot is an intelligent charging solution which allows electric car drivers to enjoy maximum independence and to always charge their car at the lowest possible cost,” explains Martin Hackl, Global Director of the Business Unit Solar Energy, Fronius International GmbH. “Our aim was to develop an installer-friendly and customer-friendly e-mobility solution and that is what we’ve done – the Fronius Wattpilot is easy to install, commission and use,” he adds.

Even if an electric car driver doesn’t yet have a PV system, it is advisable to start thinking about the right charging solution now, since not all devices can be operated intelligently in combination with a PV system. “The Fronius Wattpilot already enables customers to fill up their electric car with self-generated PV current,” notes Martin Hackl.

User-friendly operation via app
The Solar.wattpilot app makes it easy to commission and operate the charging solution. It also offers users a visually appealing overview of the status of the charging operations. The app runs on iOS and Android and is the only user interface needed to operate all functions clearly and easily.

The cheapest reliable charging
You can charge an electric vehicle very cheaply on a variable electricity tariff¹. These are based on the current electricity exchange prices and are passed directly to customers with very little surcharge. Users simply define the maximum electricity price for charging their electric car using the Solar.wattpilot app. As well as the variable electricity tariff, there are two other measures you can take to fill up your car as cheaply as possible: use the Next Trip Mode charging mode and the option of only using surplus PV for charging.

Charging an electric vehicle with as much solar energy as possible
Charging solutions must be able to follow the sun. If there’s a lot of solar energy available, more charging takes place, when there is little solar energy available, less charging takes place. The Fronius Wattpilot is excellent at utilising the surplus PV and controls in 1-ampere increments up to the maximum charging power. “This brings as much solar energy to your vehicle as possible,” says Martin Hackl, delighted.

The Fronius Wattpilot is one of just a handful of products on the market that can switch between single-phase and three-phase charging. This means that all the surplus PV from 1.38 kW to 22 kW is used. Charging takes place in ampere increments and the single/three-phase switchover is fully automatic. Unlike conventional solutions, this prevents brief but expensive load peaks.

Intelligent charging modes for every situation
The Wattpilot also has two different charging modes: Eco and Next Trip Mode. Depending on the situation, the electric vehicle is either charged highly economically or up to a specified charge level for the next planned trip. Eco Mode is ideal for owners of PV systems, as it combines the surplus PV charging with the variable electricity tariff. Next Trip Mode allows users to charge the vehicle with energy for a specific journey. This ensures that there is at least enough energy for the upcoming trip, using the cheapest available power.

Combining e-mobility and photovoltaics brings an array of advantages
“The Fronius Wattpilot is aimed at all electric car drivers, whether they have a PV system or not,” explains Leonhard Peböck, Product Marketing Solar Energy, Fronius International GmbH. “But the main advantages come from combining e-mobility and photovoltaics.” The cost effectiveness of PV systems, as well as of electric cars, is improving. The reason is that self-generated solar energy is being used for charging, meaning that less power is needed from the grid. “You produce the electricity for your mobility yourself, sustainably and at the lowest cost,” reports Peböck.

The Wattpilot rounds off the Fronius range of solutions. Its introduction means that there is now a product with proven Fronius quality available not only for the PV and heat sectors, but also for the mobility sector². The Fronius Wattpilot comes in two versions: a permanently mounted Wattpilot Home for home and the mobile Wattpilot Go for on the move.

¹ This function is available in Germany and Austria from May 2021. Availability in other countries to follow.
² The Fronius Wattpilot is available in the following countries from May 2021: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Spain, Czech Republic, UK, Hungary.